wherein we entertain the notions of a creature embroiled in sorting multiple identities. is she a mother? a poet? a performer? an organizer? or is she simply the product of a feminist movement in which women dreamt that simultaneously singing opera, tap-dancing, spinning plates, spouting rhetoric and solving algorithms was liberation. here are the rough drafts.

So, this video caused quite a bit of "friendly discussion" the other day.

It took quite a bit of time for me to deal with Whitney Houston's death. I never realized we were sort of the same age. And as much as I liked her, we never really connected in the same way that I connect to other artists. Then, this old grad student acquaintance/playgroup Daddy/poetry superstar who is now one "presidential artist" and I agreed that this video was truly awesome.

His wife and my husband were in absolute agreement that this was the stupidest video of all time. (Which is one of the things I love most about my life. Artists wake up in the morning wanting to have a conversation! But, the museums and institutions go out off their way to prevent us from doing that. Because what we do is so sacred and precious and perfect that nobody can touch it or us.) Regardless, I digress.

So, I finally got something from Whitney. And as we all sat in friendly, loving discourse about this stupid video, we all were able to agree that the things creative people get up to late at night, behind their curtained windows and locked doors. Those things can be precious. But, so often, many artists are too stingy to share. And what this video shows is generosity. So - I guess that's what I'm trying to say with this poem.

I can not even comprehend this. Some days compassion is just too much hard work. And I do try. But, no matter what the circumstances....I can never "forget" a child. And I find myself apologizing to parents all the time because I don't know their name. But, I do remember their children's names. And I am very sorry for having a sanctimonious moment, but in this moment I do believe that the charity in your heart will forgive me